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Rangers And Stepan Agree To Six-Year Extension

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Stepan agreed to a six-year extension with the Rangers on Monday that will net him $6.5 million annually, Katie Strang of ESPN reports.Stepan has avoided arbitration with the deal, and will now remain in a Rangers uniform for a long time to come. The 25-year-old center posted 55 points (16 goals, 39 assists) in 2014-15, and will look to build off the effort once again in 2015 as he'll likely center the Rangers' top line once again.

Stepan collected two assists in Wednesday's 6-5 OT loss to the Lightning.The center has been red hot lately, racking up eight points in his last six games. He now has five goals and seven assists through 15 playoff games, but will face a stiff test in Game 4 with his team down 2-1 in the series.

Stepan broke a scoreless tie with just 12.7 seconds left in the second period of Saturday's Eastern Conference opener. He picked up a rebound and ripped it past the Lightning's Ben Bishop.Bishop has just lost his stick in a melee at the net when a Rangers shot went off Bolts' defender Andrej Sustr. The puck went right to Stepan, who got rid of it quickly. It was his fourth goal of the postseason and extended his current point streak to four games and five points, including two goals.

Stepan dished out a pair of helpers in Friday's Game 5 overtime win over the Capitals.While Stepan is yet to score in the second round, the 24-year-old has collected three assists and fired 13 shots on goal. He's got six points in these playoffs, which isn't awful, but it's also not mind-blowing. With 35 points (12 goals) in 71 career playoff games, Stepan has never been a big postseason performer, but his clutch assist in overtime Friday could be a sign of things to come.